AUS vs IND: Boxing Day Test could be make or break for Team India ...

AUS vs IND, 4th Test: India have won four out of 14 Tests at the MCG, having also won back-to-back matches in 2018 and 2020. The ongoing Test series is currently locked at 1-1 with two Tests remaining.

Boxing Day Test could be make or break for Team India. Here’s why. Courtesy: AP

The Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is expected to be a thriller with the Border Gavaskar Trophy in its second half. Jasprit Bumrah led India to a massive 295-run win in the Perth Test, but Pat Cummins’ Australia hit back with a 10-wicket triumph in the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval.

Pressure is on Rohit Sharma, who hasn’t won his last five Tests, losing four of them. Since the Test series against Bangladesh, Rohit has had his fair share of troubles as he hasn’t performed with the bat either. Australia, on the other hand, have momentum on their side, although they could not secure victory in the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Border Gavaskar Trophy Full Coverage

With the series locked at 1-1, the Melbourne Test could end up deciding India’s fate in the series. It goes without saying that if Rohit doesn’t return to form as captain, it could well pull the curtains down on India’s campaign in the series. The Boxing Day Test could well be make or break for India in the ongoing five-match Test series.

India enjoy playing at the MCG, especially in Test cricket. India have won 10 Tests on Australian soil, out of which four are at the iconic venue in Melbourne. Back in 1977, Bishan Singh Bedi’s India won by 222 runs, after which Sunil Gavaskar and Co. won by 59 runs in 1981. In fact, India had won back-to-back Tests, showing their dominance in Melbourne.

In 2018, Virat Kohli’s India hammered Tim Paine’s men by 137 runs after Jasprit Bumrah’s six-wicket haul in the first innings. In 2020, Ajinkya Rahane’s 112 guided India through to an eight-wicket win in the Boxing Day Test.

MCG has been India’s happy hunting ground by a distance, although they have lost eight Tests at the venue. The upcoming match is even more important for the fact that India do not have a memorable Test record in Sydney. India have won only one out of 13 Tests at the SCG, with their only win coming in 1978.

Melbourne Cricket Ground: Played - 14 | Won - 4 | Lost - 8 | Draw - 2

Adelaide Oval: Played - 14 | Won - 2 | Lost - 9 | Draw - 3

The Gabba: Played - 8 | Won - 1 | Lost - 5 | Draw - 2

Perth Stadium: Played - 2 | Won - 1 | Lost - 1 | Draw - 0

Sydney Cricket Ground: Played - 13 | Won - 1 | Lost 5 | Draw - 7

WACA: Played - 4 | Won - 1 | Lost 3 | Draw - 0

Australia are the most successful team at the MCG, having won 67 out of 116 matches at the venue. Amongst the visiting teams, England have the best record in Melbourne, winning 20 out of 57 matches. India are the second-most successful visiting team at the MCG. South Africa (3), West Indies (3) and Pakistan (2) are the other teams to have won Tests in Melbourne.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka are the Test playing nations to have played matches at the MCG, but not being able to win.

Australia: Played - 116 | Won - 67 | Lost - 32 | Draw - 17

England: Played - 57 | Won - 20 | Lost - 29 | Draw - 8

India: Played - 14 | Won - 4 | Lost - 8 | Draw - 2

South Africa: Played - 13 | Won - 3 | Lost - 8 | Draw - 2

West Indies: Played - 15 | Won - 3 | Lost - 11 | Draw - 1

Pakistan: Played - 11 | Won - 2 | Lost - 7 | Draw - 2

New Zealand: Played - 4 | Won - 0 | Lost - 2 | Draw - 2

Sri Lanka: Played - 2 | Won - 0 | Lost - 2 | Draw - 0

Prior to the series in 2018-19, India could never win a Test series on Australian soil. But from that tour onwards, they have mostly had the better of the Aussies in the latter’s backyard. In the 2020–21 series, India also breached the Gabba fortress after Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant’s heroics. India are currently looking for a hat-trick of series wins Down Under.

Having also won their Tests at the MCG back in 2018 and 2020, India are aiming for their third win on the trot in Melbourne. The task would not be a cakewalk as Australia will be pushing to not make the mistakes that they made last two times.